Electricity or gas?
Most people prefer electricity for ovens (even heat) and gas for hobs (controlability), a preference the manufacturers have acknowledged by offering dual fuel products. But which is better for the environment?.

In terms of overall carbon emissions, gas is generally the better option.6 On average, electricity emits twice as much carbon as gas; but if you get your electricity from a company that only supplies renewable energy, like Good Energy, then electricity would be the better option in terms of carbon emissions.

Electric oven energy label
Since our last report on cookers, all electric ovens are now required to carry an energy label. The energy label enables consumers to compare electric ovens, as it indicates their energy efficiency class from A to G and energy consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh) per cycle and the volume of each cavity.(1)

Choosing an A-rated cooker will reduce your climate change contribution. According to the government's Market Transformation Programme, in 2004, the first full year that energy labels were required on electric ovens, of all sales of built-in and freestanding electric ovens, 15.2% were A rated, and 81.5% were B rated.

This may suggest that the thresholds were set too low and have therefore not encouraged more efficient technologies.1 A recent web search indicated that there is now an even split between A and B rated models with very few products falling outside these two classes.

Gas oven energy label
Unfortunately, an energy label for gas ovens is not expected until 2008 at the earliest, so there is no guidance for consumers wanting to choose a gas cooker with the lowest climate change impact.

The issue of whether the label will be able to provide a direct comparison between gas and electric ovens still needs resolving. A straight comparison of the kWh consumption would give the impression that gas ovens are less efficient, but a comparison of the CO2 output would show gas appliances to be more carbon efficient as gas is a primary energy source. However, CO2 efficiency would be a new direction for a domestic appliance energy label.(1)

Standby mode
Cookers can spend most of their time in standby mode, consuming an average of 4w of energy. Electric cookers are largely left in standby mode to maintain the clock facility, so if you don't use the clock, then turn your electric cooker off at the plug.(2)

Recycle
The radical principle of 'producer responsibility' for products at the end of their working lives has once again suffered a setback in the UK. Due to originally have become law in August 2005, the DTI has delayed implementation of producer responsibility obligations for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) until at least January 2007 because it has not been agreed how the waste equipment will be collected.

The provisions will eventually mean that the cost of recycling redundant electrical equipment is the responsibility of the individual producer or retailer that introduces new products into the UK market.(3)

Until collection schemes are set up, consumers will have to continue to take responsibility for waste cookers. But it's worth it. The recycling potential of cookers is good since they are composed on average of 89% metal and 6% glass. Furthermore, there is already a good recycling infrastructure for items such as cookers and fridges.(4)

If you are a householder, your waste collection authority (district, borough or unitary council) is obliged to provide a collection service for bulky items, although they can charge a collection fee. Alternatively, appliances can be taken to your local civic amenity site for disposal free of charge.(4)

Reuse
There are over 300 furniture recycling projects across the UK. Furniture projects often need working cookers and fridges, as well as other household items such as vacuum cleaners, to pass on to low-income families for reuse. SOFA, a furniture and electrical appliance reuse charity based in Bristol, helps over 5,000 low-income households a year.(4) See the Links section below for contact details.

Clever cooking
You can reduce your cooker's contribution to climate change when you are using it by following these energy saving facts and tips:

• fan ovens use around 20% less energy than conventional ovens
• replace damaged seals around the oven door
• avoid opening the oven door when cooking where possible — choose an oven with a glass panel in the door to check how the food is doing
• cook more than one item at a time in the oven
• cook smaller meals under the grill, or, with a double oven, in the smaller one
• use a microwave if you have one, they use 70% to 90% less energy than ovens
• for gas cookers, an electric ignition rather than a continuous pilot light, saves energy
• ceramic hobs - halogen or speed glow rings are generally more efficient than radiant elements
• glass and ceramic pans heat more efficiently than metal
• match the pan to the size of the hotplate or to the flame
• always put lids on pans - more than a quarter of electricity is wasted when you cook your food without a lid
• use pans with a flat base
• boil water for cooking in a kettle first instead of in a pan
• pressure cookers and steamers save energy as they enable you to cook several different foods on one ring
• for toast, use a toaster instead of the grill
• the ultimate energy saver — eat more raw food!

Links

• Furniture Reuse Network Tel: 01924 375 252 www.frn.org.uk
  Has details of organisations that take furniture, white goods and household appliances.
• The SOFA Project, Tel: 0117 954 357 www.sofaproject.org.uk
  Furniture and electronic equipment scheme across the west.

References
1 Market Transformation Programme (www.mtprog.com) - 'Energy Label for Domestic Ovens' briefing notes
2 'Suspecting standby? Domestic levels and the potential for household level reductions in the UK' - Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, UK, Summer 2000
3 ENDS Report Bulletin 15 December 2005
4 www.wasteonline.org.uk - Electrical and electronic equipment recycling information sheet
5 Sudan Divestment Campaign - www.sudandivestment.com 6 Market Transformation Programme (www.mtprog.com) - 'Carbon Emission Factors for UK Energy Use', Briefing Notes

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